Article transferring apparatus



Jan. l2, 1943. y c. scHMuTzl-:R Er A1.

ARTICLE TRANSFERRING APPARATUS Filed March 11. 1941 INVENTORS CHARLESSCHMUTZE'R KURT MANRQDT one bottle in each hand and transfers them fromUNTED STAT ARTICLE TRANSFERRING APPARATUS Charles Schmutzer, Irvington,and Kurt Manrodt, Newark, N.'J., assignors to Homan Beverage Company,Newark, N. '.l'.

Jersey g a corporation of New applicati@ Merch 11, 1941, vserial No.332,124

v 13 claims. (crawl- 65) This invention relates to article transferring`l apparatus, and has particular reference to apparatus for lifting andtransferring bottles f in prearranged groups from one point to: another,such as to or from a bottle carryingcase, al- `:5 though the inventionis not limited to the transfer of bottles.

Heretofore it has been the common practice to transfer empty bottlescne-by-one by hand from a shipping case to a conveyor orthe like, forconveying the bottles to a bottle-washing machine or the like. Likewise,it has been the general practice to fill shippingcases with filledbottles by hand. In each instance, the packer grasps l5 one point toanother, cr if the bottles are small he may be ableto grasp two bo-ttlesin; each hand, but in every instance, a number of manualoperations arenecessary, particularly with large-capacity cases, with the result thatmuch time and an inordinate amo-unt of labor are consumed.

In accordance with the present invention, a bottle-lifting andtransferring apparatus is provided whereby an entire case of bottlesmaybe simultaneously emptied or filled bya novel arrangement whch gripsall of the bottles simllltaneously and enables their transfer in'a groupto or from a shipping case or the like, the bottles being arranged onthe apparatus in regular rows in the same positions that they occupy inthe .e0 shipping case or other carrier.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention, a frame having theapproximate shape of the shipping case but somewhat larger, is providedwith the same number of gripping devices as A35 there are bottles in theshipping case and they' are so arranged on the frame that one grippingdevice lies in the center of each bottle compartment in the shippingcase. Each gripping device comprises a cup or socket formed by aflexible 40 rubber sheath constituting the. inner wall of an annularchamber, which communicates withv a source of fluid, such as air, underpressure and controlled by a valve manipulated by the operator. Each ofthe bottle-gripping devices on the frame is connected toV this controlvalve so that they are all simultaneously contracted upon the neck ofthe corresponding bottles, eitherempty or filled, so as to grip thesame. Then the entire frame is transferred, either manually or bymachine, to the place of deposit, and the valve again manipulated tosimultaneously release the bottles. Accordingly, an entire case may besimultaneously emptied of bottles in one operation, and when it isdesired to ll a case, the bottles arepl'aced therein by the apparatus inthe exact relationship that they occupy within the com,- partments;Where the transfer of the' groups of bottles is performed manually, theframe is probottles to or from a shipping case, or other holder orcarrier, with a minimum of effort and at a `rapid rate.

For a more complete understanding of the invention, reference may be hadto the accom- Y-panying drawing,`in which:

Figure l is a plan view of one form ofthe bottlc-transferring apparatusof this invention;

Fig. 2 is an elevation of the same, and illustrates the manner in whichthe apparatus functions in association with bottles in a shipping case;

Fig.- 3 is an enlarged axial section through one ofthe gripping andtransferring devices, as see along the line 3-3 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is an enlarged plan View of the control valve; and,

Fig. 5 is a transverse section therethrough as seen along the line 5--5of Fig. 4, and illustrates the valve in the position for actuating thegripping devices to grip the bottles.

Referring to Figs. 1, 2 and 3 of the drawing, the frame l0 is preferablyconstructed ofl two superimposed plates Il and I2 air-tightly sealedtogether. As shown particularlyin Fig. 3, the frame il! is provided withinterconnected air passages is formed by registering semi-circulargrooves in the abutting surfaces of the two plates ll and l2. Theair-tight sealbetween the two plates Il and l2 may be effected bymachining their engaging surfaces truly so that there is no leakage fromthe passages I4, or a sealing gasket, not shown, may be interposedbetween them in accordance with the well-known practice.

The passages it all communicate with each other and lead to a pluralityof openings I3 passing through the frame it and arranged to conform tothe shipping case compartment arrangement. These openings receive thehollow stems l5 cf the bottle-gripping devices or heads generallydesignated l5. As shown in Fig. A3, each stem l5 also serves as themeans for securing the corresponding head to the frame I and also servesto hold the two plates II and I2 `and the frame I0 tightly together. Theplates II and I2 are clamped between a nut Il engaging the lower surfaceof the bottom plate I2 over a gasket I8, and a second nut I9 engagingthe upper surface of top plate II over gasket 20. In this way the axialpassage 2| of the stern i5 communicates throughout the lateral passages22 with the-corresponding passage I4 formed in the frame I0.

The lower end of the stem I is provided with a lateral -fiange 23between which and a washer 24 engaging the lower surface of nut I 'I isclamped a soft rubber sleeve 25 enclosed in a metal protecting tube 26which is held in place by a lower lateral ange 21 on the rubber sleeve25. Rubber sleeve is formed with a reversely-turned inwardly projectingvsheath 28 which is sealed to the lower end ofthe-stem i5 by means of alocking disc or nut 29 screwed tightly against the closed bottom 30"o'fthe sheath 28.

Accordingly, there is formed between the rubber sleeve 25, the sheath 28and the flange 23, an expansible, sealed chamber 3|, which communicateswith the passage 2| in stem I5 through lateral passages 32. The sheath28 is made sufficiently larger than the neck of the bottle so that thebottle can readily enter it, and is thinwalled and flexible so that whenair under pressure is supplied to the chamber 3|, through passages I4,2i and 32, the sheath 28 contracts radially so as to grip the neck of a"bottle inserted therein. Conversely, when the air pressure is released,the sheath expands, due toits resiliency, and releases the bottle. It.will be observed that because the chamber 3| is sealed, the device isindifferent as to whether or not the bottle is empty or full, which isnotthe case where open suction ports are relied on to grip and hold thebottle, since the suction must first reduce the air in an empty bottlein order to lift it. Also, because the chamber 3| is sealed,

` some other pressure fluid, such as steam or liquid may be employedwith equal facility.

The passages I4 within the frame I0 are supplied with air under pressureby means of a metal tube or flexible hose 33 suitably connected theretoat a central point by means of a tting 34 screwed into the top of theplate '-I I, as shown in Fig. 3. The pipe 33 leads across 'the top ofthe frame l0 to the outlet port of scribed.

The air supply tube 33 is connected to the interior of cylinder 36 bymeans of a fitting 31 screwed into a boss 38 on the cylinder 36 andleading to the port 39 in the wall of the cylinder 36. Air underpressure is supplied to the cylinder `by means of a flexible hose 49 ofrubber or the like leading from a suitable source of air under pressuresuch as a pressure tank supplied by a conventional motor-drivenair-compressor, not shown. The hose 40 is sealed to a tting 4I screwedinto a second boss 42 on the -cylinder 36 and communicating with theinterior ..43 and displaced angularly from port 39 by the same angle asport 43 is displaced therefrom, as shown in Fig. 5.

Cylinder 36 is tted with a rotatable valve 45 having two connectedpassages 46 and 4'I arranged radially so as to be in alignmentsimultaneously with ports 39 and v43, respectively, or ports 44 and 39,respectively. Valve 45 is held in place within cylinder 36 by means ofthe apertured fiange 48 through which the reduced stem 49 of the valve45 passes. 'Ihe upper edge of the ange 48 is recessed to expose thevalve stem 49 and the end Walls 50 and 5I of this recess serve as stopsfor a pin 52 on the valve stem 49.

The stops 50 and 5I are so arranged that when stop pin 52 is inengagement with stop 5I, the valve 45 lies in the position shown in Fig.5, with supply port 43 in communication with port 39 leading through airsupply tube 33 and passages I4 to the several transfer heads I6. Whenthe stop pin 52 is positioned against the stop 50, port 39 is incommunication with exhaust port 44, as shown by the dotted lines in Fig.5, so that the air is exhausted tc atmosphere from the several heads I6.

An operating lever 53 is provided on the valve stem 49 for manualoperation of the valve to control the bottle-gripping andbottle-releasing operations in the manner described, the operating lever53 being moved to the right as seen in Fig. 4 to perform thebottle-gripping function of the heads I6, and being ,moved to the leftto perform the bottle-releasing function of the heads I6. 4

The frame ID is provided with handles 54 whereby the operatormay liftand transfer the entire Vdevice with or without appendedv bottles, asthe case may be. The valve 35 is preferably positioned adjacent one ofthe handles 54, such as the right-hand handle, with the valve operatinglever 53 so arranged adjacent the handle 54 that the operator maymanipulate the valve 35 merely by movement of his thumb in contact withthe operating lever 53.

In operation of the apparatus of this invention, and assuming that itisdesired to transfer empty bottles from a shippingl Case in whichthey'have been collected, the operator grasps the apparatus by itshandles 54 and with the operating valve 35 in the-open position so thatthe sheaths 28 are expanded, he places the apparatus in alignment withlthe bottles in the case, so that each bottle enters one of the headsI6. Each bottle is not only centered in the sheath 28 of each head butproperly positioned axially therein as the head descends over the bottleuntil the bottom of the cup-like sheath 28v engages the lip of thecorresponding bottle and rests thereon, the operator'making certain thatthe weight of the plate rests on the lipsV of the bottles which insuresthat the bottle necks are all properly positioned within thecorresponding heads I6. l

The operator then moves the operating lever 53 to the right with histhumb until stop pin 52 engages stop 5I. In this position of valve 45,port 39 leading through pipe 33 and passages I4 to the various chambers3l in the heads I6 is placed in communication with port 43' leadingthrough exible hose 48 from the source of air under pressure. The airunder'pressure thus supplied to the chambers 3| in the various heads I 6contracts the corresponding sheaths 28 sov that the necks of the bottlesare tightly and securely gripped. Inasmuch as the chambers 3| are allsimultaneously connected to the source of pressure in this way, all ofthe bottles in the case are thus gripped.

The operator then lifts the entire apparatus so that the bottles areremoved as a groupfrom the shipping case and transferred either to aconveyor, work table, processing machine, or some other place of depositwhere they are released by the operator by movement of the operatinglever 53 to the left until stop pin 52 engages stop 5|, which places allof the chambers 3| in communication with atmosphere through passages i4,tube 33, port 39, valve passages 41 and 4G, and exhaust port 44.

The bottles are accordingly deposited in the exact relative positionsthat they occupied in the shipping case, and hence the conveyor may belikewise provided with cells or compartments for receiving the bottlesin this relationship, which they may maintain throughout the entirebottlewashng operation, so that when they emerge in the washed andsterilized condition, they may be readily transferred without specialarrangement from a discharge conveyor to a shipping case by means of theapparatus of this invention. Also,

heads may be arranged in any desired way on a frame for transferring oneor more bottles in any desired number and arrangement, and that thetransfer of the frame and the operation of the air-'control valve may beeffected by a machine for merely duplicating the manual movements of theoperator in the manner described.

We claim:

l. In article transferring apparatus, the combination of a movableframe, a hollow member thereon having a iiexible wall for engaging atleast part of the article, a source of fluid pressure connected to saidhollow member for actuating said wall to grip said article, and meansinterposed in said connection for controlling the article-grippingaction of said member, whereby the article may be transferred uponbodily movement of said frame.

2. In article transferring apparatus, the combination of a movableframe, a member thereon having a xed portion, a movable wall portioncooperating with said xed portion to form a chamber, said movable wallportion being shaped to engage the article, a source of fluid pressure,connections between said source and said charnber, and means interposedin said connections for controlling the movement of said wall portion togrip the article, whereby the article may be transferred upon bodilymovement of said frame.

3. In article transferring apparatus, the combination of a mova-bleframe, a member thereon having a fixed portion, a movable wall portioncooperating with said fixed portion to form a chamber, said movable wallportion being shaped to engage the article, a source of uid pressure,connections between said source and said chamber, and a two-positionvalve in said connections, one valve position aifording communicationbetween said source and said chamber for causing said wall portion togrip the article for transfer thereof upon movement of said frame, andthe Cil Vother valve position disconnecting said source from saidchamber and connecting the latter to a discharge for causing said wallportion to release the article.

4. In article transferring apparatus, the cornbination of a movableframe, a recessed member thereon, a exible tubular sheath forming theinner wall of a chamber in said member, said sheath having a dimensionsuiicient to accommodate at least part of the article to be transferred,a source of fluid pressure connected to said chamber for contractingsaid sheath on said article to grip the same, andmeans interposedbetween said source and said chamber for controlling thearticle-gripping action of said sheath, whereby the article may betransferred upon bodily movement of said frame.

5'. In article transferring apparatus, the combination of a rigidtubular member, a cup-shaped sheath within said member and sealedthereto to form an annular chamber therewith, the lateral tubular wallof said sheath being flexible, a source of fluid pressure, connectionsbetween said source and said chamber, and a valve in said connectionsfor controlling the supply of pressure fluid to said chamber to contractsaid sheath on an article inserted therein, whereby the article may betransferred upon movement of said apparatus.

predetermined relation for receiving the correspending articles, acontractible sheath in each cup for gripping the article uponcontraction thereof, and means for simultaneously contracting all ofsaid sheaths to grip the correspond- `ing articles for transferring themfrom said container upon bodily movement of said frame. 7. In 'apparatusfor transferring a plurality of articles from a container inwhich theyare ar- .ranged in predetermined relation, the combination of a movableframe adapted to be placed in juxtaposition to said container, aplurality of gripping devices each constituting a contractible chambershaped to conform to the article for gripping the same, said devicesbeing arranged on said frame in said predetermined relation for engagingthe corresponding articles, a source of iiuid pressure, a connectionbetween said source and each of said chambers for contracting the sameto grip the articles, and means in said connection for simultaneouslycontrolling the article-gripping action of said chambers, whereby thearticles may be transferred from said container upon bodily movement ofsaid frame.

8. In apparatus for transferring a plurality of articles from acontainer in which they are arranged in predetermined relation, thecombination of ya movable frame adapted to be placed in juxtaposition tosaid container, a plurality of rigid inverted cups arranged on saidframe in said predetermined relation for receiving the correspondingarticles, a tubular sheath of flexible material sealed in each cup andforming a chamber therewith, a source of fluid pressure connected to allof said chambers for contracting the sheaths thereof to grip thecorresponding articles, and means in said connections for conall saidarticles for transfer upon bodily movement: of said frame 'and' for'simultaneouslyreleasing them at the placel of deposit thereof.

9. In apparatus for transferring a plurality of articles from acontainer in which they are arranged in predetermined relation, thecombination of a movable frame adapted to be placed in juxtaposition tosaid container, a plurality of gripping devices each constituting acontractible chamber shaped to conform to the article for gripping thesame, said devices being arranged on said frame in said predeterminedrelation for engaging the corresponding articles, a source of fluidpressure, a connection between said source and each of said chambers forcontracting the same to grip the articles, a valve in said connectionsfor controlling the supply of pressure uid to said chambers andreleasing the same therefrom to grip all of said articles simultane-'ously for transferring themfupcn bodily movement of said frame and thenrelease them simultaneously at the place of deposit.

. 10'. In apparatus for transferring a plurality of Aarticles from acontainer in which they are arranged in predetermined relation, thecombination of a movable frame adapted to be placed. in

juxtaposition to said container, a plurality of .gripping devices eachconstituting a contractible chamber shaped to conform to the article forgripping the same, said devices being arranged on said frame in saidpredetermined relation for Vengaging the corresponding articles, asource of fluid pressure, a connection between said source and each ofsaid chambers for contracting the `same to grip the articles, a valvefor connecting said chambers to said source, a second valve forconnecting said chambers to discharge, and a .common operating means forsaid valves to alternatively supply and release the pressure fluid fromsaid chambers to grip and release said articles at will.

. 11. In apparatus for transferring a plurality of articles from acontainer in which they are arranged in predetermined relation, thecombination of a movable frame adapted to be placed in 'luxtaposition tosaid container, a plurality of gripping devices each constituting acontractible .chamber shaped to conform to the article for gripping thesame, said devices being arranged on said frame in said predeterminedrelation for engaging the corresponding articles, a source-,olf fluidpressure, a connection between said source and each of said chambers forcontracting the same to grip the articles, a valve in said connectionsfor alternatively connecting and disconnecting said source to and fromsaid chamber to cause them to grip and release said articles, wherebythe articles may be simultaneously gripped and transferred upon bodilymovement of said frame and then released therefrom at the place ofdeposit.

12. In apparatus for transferring a plurality of articles from acontainer in which they are arranged in predetermined relation, thecombination of a movable frame adapted to be placed in juxtaposition tosaid container, a plurality of gripping devices arranged onsaid frame insaid predetermined relation for engaging the corresponding articles, amovable part on each deto grip the corresponding articles fortransferring them from said container upon bodily movement of saidframe, and Iat least one carrying handle on said frame positionedadjacent said means, whereby the means is operable by the hand on saidhandle.

13. In apparatus for transferring a plurality of articles from acontainer in which they are arranged in predetermined relation, thecombination of a movable frame adapted to be placed in juxtaposition tosaid container, a plurality of gripping devices each constituting acontractible chamber shaped to conform to the article for gripping thesame, said devices being arranged on said frame in said predeterminedrelation for vengaging the corresponding articles, a source of iiuidlpressure, a connection between said source and each of said chambers forcontracting the same to grip the articles, a valve on said frameinterposed in said connections for controlling the supply of pressureuid to and from said chambers, at least one carrying handle on saidframe,

